The kool-aid drinking Herrera supporter. Today: Anna Miller.

Anna Miller is the power in the Clark County GOP because she's proof of the adage that the world truly is run by those who show up.

It doesn't matter that she's not particularly competent in the realm of politics: her efforts as party chair resulting in, among other things, Keith Olbermann naming the Clark County GOP his "second worst person in the world"

What matters is that she's THERE.

Early on in Herrera's congressional campaign, Miller confronted me at Brent Boger's campaign announcement, claiming that my post pointing out the absurdity of Jaime's ability to munch her way through almost $500 in taxpayer money for food on a 3 day boondoggle trip as Cathy McMorris Roger's staffer was all wrong (never mind that I produced the actual document proving my assertions in the post) and I told her what I tell everyone that challenges what I write: provide the proof, and I'll post that I was wrong and show the proof to that effect.

I'm still waiting.

So far, Ridgefield Barbie has been everything I thought she'd be in Congress, and less.

Failing to hold town hall meetings... setting up carefully screened "coffees" with potential (and, no doubt, past) donors... brining in John Boehner and charging $2500 a head while refusing to get in front of the "little people?"

Voting to raise the debt ceiling a paltry $900 billion.

Back in the day, we were horrified to learn of the mass-suicide of hundreds in Guyana at the behest of Rev. Jim Jones, forever enshrining the phrase "kool aid drinker" as a description of those who'll follow anyone if they believe they're going to get something out of it.

Like Ana Miller. And today's case in point is this completely delusional effort from Miller ass a part of the GOP's earnest effort to rehab the image of the increasingly tarnished empty suit representing us in Congress:

It’s about time we had a U.S. representative who was in touch with the people of Clark County. We’ve suffered some of the worst unemployment in the country, and we’re hurting. Rather than go for a pay raise, Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Camas, proposed a bill to cut her own pay and pay for all U.S. representatives by 10 percent. I want to know the person I sent to Congress to solve our problems understands our problems — and Herrera Beutler has shown me she does. She ran for this office on the promise to cut spending, and I commend her for keeping her word and cutting where it counts.

Anna Miller

Camas

Of course, Miller neglected to mention she's a GOP hack who is the power behind the scenes, and while holding the position of party treasurer, puts out crap like this.

And my response?

Been drinking the kool aid, again, Anna?

Herrera has done nothing and accomplished nothing except to vote for Obama's debt ceiling increase.

The bill (what's the bill number again?) she tossed out there was typical of the cheap publicity stunts she's known for... that gets the more ignorant to really think she's doing something... when, of course, she isn't.

Is something keeping her from setting the example? You know, VOLUNTARILY send 10% of her pay back in?

"She ran for this office on the promise to cut spending, and I commend her for keeping her word and cutting where it counts."

And then she votes to give Obama $900 billion in increased spending with the debt ceiling fiasco.

Yup. She's a genuine peach.

She has cut nothing. And for people to wander around lying about her non-accomplishments... well, THAT'S worthy of a blog post, GOP or no.

Crossposted on Clark County Politics.

The dichotomy for Ridgefield Barbie: pay to play.

This a.m. there was an LTE on the Columbian web site:

Letter: Who approves of such campaigning?

Thursday, September 15, 2011

I read the Sept. 8 story, “Talk to Herrera Beutler, Boehner — for a price,” that reported U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Camas, was having a campaign fundraiser at the home of Dick Hannah. The story stated that $10,000 could be donated by each couple. Real-ly? Is this what our Founding Fathers had in mind? I don’t think so.

Congress has a 13 percent approval rating as of now. Maybe because only 13 percent or less benefit from the acts of Congress. This is ruining our political system. It needs to stop — now.

Lynn Brown

Vancouver

Think about it. Re-election requires roughly $2 million each cycle for a Member of Congress. They face re-election every 104 weeks. If you do the math, those in Congress must kowtow to the special interests at the rate of around $20,000 each week.

Is it any wonder our country is so screwed up?

I condemned our congresswoman because of this same issue. I condemn her carefully screened, cherry-picked "coffees" while she fails to meet with the unwashed masses... no elected official or staffer of principle or integrity would put up with that. But that all begs the larger question.

The reason I am condemning her on THIS ISSUE is because she made the decision to effectively meet only with people who, when she runs again, could write her large checks. In this instance, clearly her focus is not on her constituents... but again, on herself... much like the immature girl image she all-too-frequently projects.

Had she done these coffees in ADDITION to 3 or 4 town hall meetings around the district... something a barn-headed ape should have figured out... then I'd have no complaint... about that aspect of her self-centeredness, anyway.

That brings us to the issue of excising this disease of what I can call "moneyitus."

One popularly held, but I believe nonsensical and unworkable solution, is term limits.

Term limits have 3 primary faults in the thought process that supports them:

1. I should have the right to vote for any candidate I desire... even one that has served X number of terms in the past.

2. Term limits by themselves will do nothing to address the impacts of, or requirements for, the special interest money that controls our government today.

3. There is something to be said for institutional memory, both good... and bad... if you have Members with integrity and honesty, that Memory can be used to both avoid past mistakes and to form a better future plan.

Others are of the government-financed campaign school. Here locally, the train wreck that is Portland politics so far have not been positively impacted in any noticeable way... and who, with a straight face, can advocate funding campaigns when we can't fund fire houses?

I don't have the answer to this question... a question that seems almost Churchillian in it's breadth and depth:

Many forms of Government have been tried and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed, it has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.

I am quick to condemn Herrera, because there is much to condemn her for. But I know enough about politics to know that the political equivalent of Jaime or any other serious candidate standing on a street corner with a bucket, spare-changing campaign donations is equally impossible.

In this instance, the political perception is the reality. And here, the reality is that once again, Herrera engaged in an own-goal by failing to add town hall meetings to the mix. Thus, her carefully screened "invitees" shtick come across as a fearful, cynical ploy to tighten her bonds to the donating community (Another Churchillian bromide:

Churchill: "Madam, would you sleep with me for five million pounds?"

Socialite: "My goodness, Mr. Churchill… Well, I suppose… we would have to discuss terms, of course…"

Churchill: "Would you sleep with me for five pounds?"

Socialite: "Mr. Churchill, what kind of woman do you think I am?!"

Churchill: "Madam, we’ve already established that. Now we are haggling about the price.")

while steadfastly ignoring those she actually answers to.

Herrera might reconsider her staff... because only one of two things could have caused this screw-up:

Those she hired lacked the political understanding of a 5th grader and gave her (or someones idea she bought into) the "Absolutely right, J.B.!" treatment, or

Someone on the staff warned her (Ryan Hart, who's political support was bought and paid for with the promise of his $65,000 per year job, perhaps?) that this was a boneheaded play and she ignored them.

Either way, she's coming across like a cartoon character smacking herself in the head with a mallet.

Cross posted at Clark County Politics.

Reason Number 712 to despise Ridgefield Barbie: using 9/11 for the greater glory of Jaime Herrera.

Any regular reader of this blog is well aware of the low esteem I have for our erstwhile Camas Manikin.

Her cowardice is only exceeded by her cluelessness. Locally, she has developed the tinnest ear in all of politics... in fact, her tin ears are, I believe, second only to those of the Moron-in-Chief.

But today brought out an especially slimy effort by Babs, second only to her bizarre characterization of her 11 year absence as a result of her multiple internships, her tenure as a student at the UW, and her job as one of Cathy McMorris Roger's gofers from this area before she scammed an appointment to the state House through my brother-in-law... to our ever-lasting shame... as being the "same thing as serving in the military."

Having worn my Nation's uniform, one way or the other, for over 14 years, I can tell you... as I directly told her.... that it ain't.

So, imagine my surprise when I received this plate of tripe from the local GOP:

A Message From Our Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler

09/11/11

Friends, We all remember ten years ago on September 11; where we were, and what we were doing when we learned of the terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers and Pentagon. We all felt fear and confusion at the images of horror we saw on the news. But this is America. What makes this country great is the courage and bravery that emerges during our darkest times. A few months after 9/11, I was working with a small group of volunteers in a Red Cross shelter next to Ground Zero in New York. We were filling a simple role -- serving eggs and providing blankets to those conducting the cleanup. It was a round the clock task and when the police, firefighters and construction workers needed to come in from the freezing weather, some would come in and attempt to rest. The scene was grave. Rubble that had been a pile was slowly turning into a pit as more was removed and cleaned up each day. Remains of victims were still being unearthed. But playing this small part in the healing process galvanized my desire to work in service to our communities. Like many Americans, my love and respect for our country and her citizens soared. We take this ten year anniversary of the September 11 attacks to offer our heartfelt gratitude to our first responders, and the men and women of our military, who stepped forward to respond to this tragedy. And we remember those who have died for our country. May we also never forget the demonstrations of bravery or the spirit of service that resulted from 9/11. Sincerely, Jaime Herrera Beutler Washington, DC Office 1130 Longworth HOB Washington, DC 20515 Phone: (202) 225-3536 Fax: (202) 225-3478 O.O. Howard House (Officers' Row) 750 Anderson Street, Suite B Vancouver, WA 98661 Phone: (360) 695-6292 Fax: (360) 695-6197

It takes a special kind of scum to blow up her own non-role in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks for political gain.

There's something psychotic about someone who would send out such a message on this day... a message highlighting her own alleged role... in the face of the death, destruction and pain that she was no where around when it happened.

All-in-all, it's pretty despicable.

But then, so is she.

Crossposted at Clark County Politics.

$2500 to spend time with Herrera? Spitzer got a better deal.

Readers of my blogs know I don't think highly of the coward we have sitting in a seat where courage and vision are not only needed, but an absolute necessity given the tenor of our times.

Locally, few outside the mayor of Vancouver and two of our county commissioners have "tinner" ears than Ridgefield Barbie. Lacking the guts to face her constituents, the only ones she'll talk to are hose on her donor list or otherwise screen by her mind-field-clearing staff to make sure her small amount of intellectual capacity isn't terribly overtaxed.

Literally.

But the idea that a big check gets you face time with the cardboard cutout of a congresswoman while she ignores the unwashed (and unpaying) masses who were, well, foolish enough to vote for this political waste of skin shows an amount of tin in her aural canals that would put a family-size can of Campbell's tomato soup to shame in content.

Stupid is as stupid does. And the coward we have "representing" us in the House of Representatives proves that every day, in every way.

It's just a damned shame that we don't have someone in their more like Allen West and less like Elmer Fudd.

Cross posted at Clark County Politics.
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Stop the presses: I actually agree with something Moeller said. Herrera Cowardice.

Occasionally, our local far fringe-leftist rep here locally, one Jim Moeller (Did you know he was gay? He never seems to let anyone forget) actually makes sense.

His remark, left on the democratian story "Facing voter discontent, lawmakers skip town halls," is one such rare occasion.

Jim Moeller · Top Commenter · Friends with Kathy McDonald

"Comes with the frame." Town halls (I and the rest of the 49th LD delegation have done at least 20) are always a mixture of pats on the back and kicks in the ass. Most people are civil, want to ask a question and get an answer and know that you're trying to get them an answer. Some just want to argue, that's always been true. That said, there is never an excuse to NOT hold a town hall. Voters want to talk to you, shake your hand or wag their finger. It's part of our messy democracy. It's all good.

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Of course, when you're a neo-communist representing a socialist district like the stunted 49th, it's much easier to face The Mob.

But the basic tenet..."there is never an excuse to NOT hold a town hall. Voters want to talk to you, shake your hand or wag their finger. It's part of our messy democracy. It's all good" is flawless.

It's just a shame that the cardboard cut out, Ridgefield Barbie, can't figure this out.

Cross posted at Clark County Politics.